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Biggio's milestone hits

Biggio's milestone hits

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Hit 1 (June 29, 1988): After only one full season in the Minor Leagues, catching prospect Craig Biggio joined the Houston Astros in late June 1988. In his fourth game as a Major Leaguer, Biggio had the duty of catching the legendary Nolan Ryan as the Astros opposed the Dodgers and Orel Hershiser at the Houston Astrodome. Hershiser bested Ryan, 2-0, giving up only two singles, one of which was Biggio's first Major League hit.

Hit 100 (July 30, 1989): In a Sunday afternoon in the 'Dome, the Astros were locked in a 2-2 tie with the first-place San Francisco Giants. With two men on and one out, Biggio singled to center off Mike LaCoss, driving in both runners and propelling the Astros to a 6-2 victory. In 1989, Biggio solidified himself as one of the top offensive players in the game by winning The Sporting News' Silver Slugger Award as the top offensive catcher in the National League.

Hit 500 (May 20, 1992): A single off Terry Mulholland leading off the fifth at Veterans Memorial Stadium marked Biggio's 500th hit. Later that season, Biggio made the All-Star team as a second baseman, becoming the first player in Major League history to make the All-Star team at both catcher (1991) and second base.

Hit 1,000 (July 1, 1995, 2nd hit): A single off Mark Dyer marked Biggio's 1,000th hit as the Astros beat the Pirates, 11-0, in the Astrodome. Later that month, Biggio was selected to start in the All-Star Game in Texas, making him the first Astro to be elected as a starter since Cesar Cedeno in 1973.

Hit 1,500 (April 24, 1998, 2nd hit): The Montreal Expos' Rick DeHart surrendered Biggio's 1,500th hit, an infield single to shortstop at Olympic Stadium. Biggio stole three bases this game as the Astros defeated the Expos, 8-4. Craig finished with 50 stolen bases in '98, joining Tris Speaker as the only players in the 20th century to collect 50 doubles and 50 stolen bases in the same season.

Hit 2,000 (May 4, 2001): Four years and 499 hits later, Craig Biggio returned to Olympic Stadium and notched his 2,000th career hit, an infield single to second off Javier Vazquez. With this hit, Biggio became the only Astro and the 216th player to reach the 2,000 hit milestone.

Hit 2,500 (May 8, 2004:) Starting in center field and leading off the game at Turner Field, Biggio singled to left off Atlanta's Horacio Ramirez, marking his 2,500th career hit. Biggio homered twice in that game, on his way to a career-high 24 home runs in 2004. This year was special for Biggio as his multiple personal accolades paid off in October as the Astros won their first postseason series and came within one game of the World Series.

Hit 2,900 (Aug. 5, 2006): Biggio collected his 2,900th career hit off Arizona's Dustin Nippert at Chase Field with an infield single to shortstop. In 2006, Biggio moved into 25th all-time in games played, 16th in at-bats and 17th in runs scored. It also marked his 18th consecutive season as a Houston Astros Opening Day starter.

Hit 2,930 (Sept. 30, 2006): Biggio tallied his 2,930th career hit with a single to right off of the Braves' Lance Cormier at Turner Field. This hit placed Biggio into a tie on the all-time hit list with Jake Beckley and Rogers Hornsby. If Biggio continues the same hitting pace of 2006 he will pass 13 players by season's end, including hitting greats Frank Robingson, Roberto Clemente, Lou Brock, Rod Carew, and Rickey Henderson.